The Eastern Zone of the Przeworsk culture – and what it comprehends

In phase B1, and very prominently – in phase B2 of the Roman Period, tribal groups of the north-eastern territories of the Przeworsk culture displayed a number of characteristic regional elements. These elements are mostly seen in female outfits that become much richer and more varied than elsewhere within the Przeworsk culture territory. The features specific for the Eastern Przeworsk Zone, like e.g., a very high frequency of dress elements made of copper alloys, would be largely the effect of mutual relations of these people with communities of the Wielbark culture from Eastern Pomerania. Though outwardly only ethnographic, this specificity of the material culture may have deeper underlying causes, since starting with phase B1, there is evidence of two basic types of Eastern Przeworsk cemeteries. In both cases, the women’s grave furnishings display general Eastern Przeworsk characteristics. In cemeteries of the first group weapon graves disappear already in early phase B1. These cemeteries fell out of use before the end of phase B2 and reflect the full, or nearly full withdrawal of the ‘Przeworsk’ community from that area. The second group form Przeworsk cemeteries with ‘standard’ weapon graves. From phase B2/C1 on, the Wielbark culture newcomers continued to use many of these cemeteries. Many of them were then continuously used from phase B2/C1 by the Wielbark culture newcomers. It appears that a part of the Przeworsk population from the Eastern Zone probably joined Gothic (Wielbark) tribes then moving south. Recently many brooches recognized traditionally as definitely ethnographic markers of the Przeworsk culture (types Almgren 43 and Almgren 129) have been registered in the western provinces of nowadays Ukraine. However, these finds are already much more numerous than those from the ‘core’ territory of the Przeworsk culture – for the time being, this phenomenon seems to be inexplicable.

The magnetic survey of the early Scythian burial site and settlements in the Turan-Uyuk valley in Tuva

In 2019, Polish archaeologists took part in an expedition of the Hermitage Museum, led by K.V. Chugunov, in Chinge-Tey cemetery, Tuva (Russian Federation). This paper presents the results of magnetic surveys carried out within the so-called western chain of barrows and around the princely barrow of Chinge-Tey I. This method of non-invasive research is very well suited to the landscape and has produced a significant body of information. Among others, the survey of the western chain identified a stone mantle in barrow 8, which makes it different from other barrows from this group, whose mounds were built of earth. Another important result is the identification of a stone circle surrounding a cult feature (certainly associated with eschatological rituals) known as the northern complex. The presence of the circle came as a surprise for the investigators of the site, as it does not manifest itself at all on the surface of the site. On the other hand, worth noting is one negative result, which nevertheless allows for some conclusions, namely the lack of detectable anomalies connected with one of the tombs in the vicinity of Chinge-Tey I (barrow 15). Despite being clearly discernible in the landscape, and even more evident in LIDAR images, the barrow is invisible on images produced with a magnetometer. This means that one cannot rule out a possibility that other structures undetectable by magnetic surveys may be present within the investigated part of the cemetery. Nevertheless, one cannot but arrive at the conclusion that the results generated by the magnetic research provide significant information concerning the spatial arrangement of the cemetery and are helpful in planning of archaeological excavation.

The migration of the Vandals and the Suebi to the Roman West and archaeological accounts

This article addresses a few archaeological finds from the earliest stage of the Great Migration Period (late fourth to the first half of the fifth century AD) in the territory of the Western Roman Empire related to Central Europe by origin, which could testify to the migration of the Vandals and the Suebi to the Roman West in 406 AD. These finds comprise different types of crossbow brooches discovered in the Roman provinces in Gallia, Spain, and North Africa, which parallels originate from the lands to the north of the Danube, in the zone where the Vandals and the Suebi lived by the moment of the migration to the West in 406 AD. Besides, some features of the funeral rite discovered in the early Great Migration Period in Eastern Gallia, particularly ritually destroyed weapons, meet with analogies in the cemeteries of Central European barbarians, particularly in the Przeworsk culture. These archaeological pieces of evidence were partially related to the arrival of the Vandals and the Suebi to the Roman Empire’s territory in 406 AD, and also reflected the presence of the Central European barbarians in the Roman military service.

Die nächsten drei Sueben! Ein kaiserzeitliches „Fürstengrab“ mit römischem Import und weitere Grabfunde von Kariv-I in der Westukraine

The next three Suebi! A Roman Period „princely grave“ with Roman import and other grave finds from Kariv-I in the western Ukraine In spring 2017, the Historical-Regional Museum in Vinniki was informed about the discovery of several metal objects discovered by detectorists in the vicinity of the village Kariv, obl. Ľviv, Fpl. I, in western Ukraine. An immediately scheduled excavation should deliver information about the character and state of preserving of the site. It took place in summer 2017 under the direction of Jaroslav Oniščuk (Ivan Franko University Ľviv). At the very beginning of these investigations, two extremely interesting graves (1 and 2) were discovered, dating back to the late second century AD. Grave 1 contained fragments of a Roman amphora dating from the second third of the 1st century BC to the middle of the 2nd century AD, a terra sigillata vessel with applied decoration, a severely disintegrated horse skull and bridle of the Vimose type, five iron arrowheads, ritually bent iron scissors, a fragmentary shield shackle, two molten and broken bronze spurs and belt fittings. Given his inventory grave 2 can be named “princely grave“. As a urn was used a bronze cauldron with three busts of Germanic men with the so-called Suebian knot, to which there are known only two parallels next to a loose find of a single bust. As a second metal vessel, the grave contained a bronze bucket, furthermore two glass goblets with oval cut facets, two glass bowls, and a fifth glass vessel so badly decomposed that it could not be retrieved. Also email-decorated drinking horn components made of copper alloy have to be mentioned. They and the finds of Roman provenance from grave 2 can be called spectacular. They indicate an outstanding position of the owner in his environment and also on a supraregional scale. The graves can be dated to the time of the Marcomannic Wars or shortly thereafter and are certainly related to these events in a causal connection. Zusammenfassung: Vinniki über den Fund von mehreren Metallgegenständen informiert, die von Sondengängern im Gebiet des Dorfes Kariv, obl. Ľviv, Fpl. I, in der Westukraine entdeckt wurden. Eine unverzüglich anberaumte Verifizierungsgrabung sollte Aufschluss über den Charakter und Erhaltungszustand des Platzes geben. Sie fand im Sommer 2017 unter der Leitung von Jaroslav Oniščuk (Ivan Franko-Universität Ľviv) statt. Sofort bei Beginn dieser Untersuchungen wurden zwei äußerst bemerkenswerte Grablegen (Grab 1 und Grab 2) des späten zweiten Jahrhunderts n.Chr. freigelegt. Grab 1 barg Fragmente einer römischen Amphore die in die Zeit vom zweiten Drittel des 1. Jh. bis in die Mitte des 2. Jh. datiert, eines Terra Sigillata-Gefäßes mit applizierter Verzierung, einen stark zersetzten Pferdeschädel samt Zaumzeug vom Typ Vimose, fünf eiserne Pfeilspitzen, eine rituell verbogene Eisenschere, eine fragmentarische Schildfessel, das Fragment eines Schildbuckels, zwei angeschmolzene und zerbrochene Bügelsporen aus Bronze sowie Gürtelbeschläge. Grab 2 verdient aufgrund seines Inventars die forschungsgeschichtlich fest etablierte Bezeichnung „Fürstengrab“. Als Urne diente ein Bronzekessel mit drei Attaschen in Form von Germanen mit Suebenknoten, zu dem es neben einer einzelnen Attasche bislang nur zwei Parallelen gibt. Als zweites Metallgefäß barg das Grab einen Eimer mit Frauenkopfattaschen, ferner zwei Glasbecher mit Ovalschlifffacetten, zwei ineinandergestellte Glasschalen sowie ein fünftes Glasgefäß, das so stark zersetzt war, dass es nicht geborgen werden konnte. Als weitere Beigaben sind vor allem emailverzierte Trinkhornbestandteile aus Kupferlegierung zu nennen. Diese und die Funde römischer Provenienz aus Grab 2 sind spektakulär zu nennen; sie zeigen eine herausragende Position des einstigen Besitzers in seinem Umfeld und auch im überregionalen Maßstab an. Die Gräber können in die Zeit während der Markomannenkriege oder kurz danach datiert werden und stehen mit diesen Ereignissen sicher in einem ursächlichen Zusammenhang.

Circular weights in Przeworsk culture – fishnet sinkers or elements of a looms. An attempt of interpretation

Clay circular weights are most often interpreted as sinkers for fishing nets or weaving weights – an elements of the vertical warp-weighted looms. The starting point for writing this article was the presence of such specimens at four settlements of the Przeworsk culture located on the right side of the Vistula River (Dobre, Nieszawa Kolonia, Oronne, Puławy-Włostowice). The oldest circular weights are dated back to the Neolithic period. With varying intensity, they are also recorded within the sites of all subsequent periods and in various parts of Europe. The youngest are related to the Middle Ages and Modern Age. The article focuses mainly on circular weights from the Roman Period and the early phase of the Migration Period (Przeworsk culture, Wielbark culture, Masłomęcz group, Luboszyce culture / Elbe circle), also using chronologically and culturally different analogies, as well as the results of experimental archaeology, iconographic and ethnographic sources. Circular weights were analysed for the possibility of relating them with weaving and / or fishing. In the first case, I focus on the analysis of factors such as: the context of the discovery, the number and condition of the weights, as well as their shape, weight and the presence of use-wear traces. In the second, issues such as raw material, accuracy and method of production, as well as weight, place and context of discovery, accompanying artefacts were considered.

A newly discovered fragment of a Hunnic cauldron from site 59-60, Sanok, Poland

The article presents a newly discovered fragment of the Hunnic cauldron, unearthed during investment research conducted at site 59-60 in Sanok, Sanok County, Podkarpackie Voivodeship. As a result of conducted excavations, an extensive settlement from the Late Roman Period and the Early Migration Period were discovered. The fragment of the cauldron in one of the most important discoveries from here. Up to date just over 20 specimens of cauldrons or their fragments are known from Central Europe. The presented one is just the second cauldron discovered in the area of Poland. The article contains the results of stylistic, typological and chemical analyzes confirming the interpretation of this find.

A Roman Age Barbarian elite warrior grave from Csengersima

This is a preliminary publication of a warrior barrow grave with local cremation found in Csengersima (North-Eastern Hungary). From the point of view of the burial rite, it can be – in many regards – connected to certain barrow graves of the Przeworsk culture, and also to the barrow graves of the Early Roman Age found in the Upper Tisza Region (Slovakia and Transcarpathian area of Ukraine). Most of the objects find analogies in the Przeworsk culture. The unique find of the Csengersima grave is a combined chain-scale armour with scales leafed with gold.

New perspectives of studies in the Przeworsk culture in the Lublin region – on the example of the results of interdisciplinary studies of site 5 in Nieszawa Kolonia, Opole Lubelskie district, Lublin voivodship

The last twenty years have brought discoveries which provide a large number of sources concerning the archaeology of the Roman Period in the Lublin region. The interdisciplinary studies related to site 5 in Nieszawa Kolonia, Opole Lubelskie district, Lublin region, Poland, have generated a substantial part of these new sources. The multi-aspectual analysis of archaeological and biological sources allowed us to characterize of the economy of the dwellers of the settlement which was constituted by agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing. The relative chronology of the settlement was established, and the first stage of its functioning was determined as belonging to phase B2, until phase C1a inclusive. The second stage of the utilisation of the settlement is dated to phase C3-D1. Three instances of radiocarbon dating confirm the chronological frame established by relative dating. The presented analysis of selected archaeological sources from site 5 in Nieszawa Kolonia, especially of ceramic material, seems to confirm the possibility that in the early Roman period, in the Lublin region, especially in its western part, infiltration of Dacian cultural elements into the Przeworsk environment took place. It is undeniable that the chronology of the settlement in Nieszawa Kolonia extends beyond the established time frame assumed for the functioning of the Przeworsk culture in the Lublin region. It is possible that in the late Roman Period the history of the settlement in question is part of a series of changes that took place in the areas of Barbaricum and Roman provinces. Some of the settlers of northern origin could have returned to the former settlements. The settlement in the mesoregion of the Lesser Poland Gorge of the Vistula is of particular importance for the revision of previous interpretations of the cultural changes taking place in the Lublin region in the Roman Period and in the early Migration Period.

Luxurious caskets of the Przeworsk culture

Among the wooden caskets with metal locks (a characteristic element of the furniture of graves of women in barbaricum) there is a distinguished group of finds with outstanding decoration made of large sheets of bronze covered with rich set of various punched motifs, fixed with vast amount of decorative, dome headed bronze nails. These caskets, similar in style, are known exclusively from the Przeworsk culture area (cemeteries in Opatów, Chmielów Piaskowy, Zamiechów, Kraków-Płaszów, and from the Tisa group cemetery in Badon “Doaşte”, in Romania). Fragments of bronze plates with similar motifs are known from a few other sites. They are dated to phase B2/C1 – C1 and can be treated as a very homogenous group, maybe even works of one craftsmen or workshop. The described ornamented caskets were found in graves with rich, however not outstanding, furniture. They can be treated as an attempt to imitate of wooden boxes with bronze decorative mounts known from the Roman Empire, however the motifs are deeply rooted in the local “barbarian” tradition. The ornamented caskets could have been a sign of special social status. Most interesting and really mysterious are figures on the plates from Kraków Płaszów presenting stylised complete human and animal representations.